Heat Engines and IC Engine Components

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of the inlet manifold in an engine?

The inlet manifold connects the intake system to the inlet valve and allows the air or air-fuel mixture to enter the cylinder.

How do the inlet and exhaust valves function in an engine?

Inlet valves regulate the entry of air-fuel mixture into the cylinder, while exhaust valves allow the combustion products to exit the cylinder.

What is the primary function of the cylinder block in an internal combustion engine?

The cylinder block serves as the main supporting structure for the engine components and houses the cylinders and other parts.

Describe the function of the spark plug in an SI engine.

The spark plug initiates the combustion process in Spark-Ignition (SI) engines. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the role of the piston in an internal combustion engine.

The piston is a cylindrical component that fits snugly in the cylinder, forming a gas-tight space for combustion and transmitting gas forces to the output shaft. Signup and view all the answers

What is a combustion chamber, and where is it located in an engine?

The combustion chamber is the space enclosed by the cylinder head and the piston top during combustion, located at the upper part of the cylinder. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the connecting rod in an engine?

The connecting rod transmits gas forces from the piston to the crankshaft. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the cylinder facilitates thermodynamic processes in an engine.

The cylinder is a vessel where the piston moves, allowing for varying volumes that interact with working fluids under different thermodynamic conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the crankshaft contributes to an engine's operation.

The crankshaft converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into useful rotary motion for the output shaft. Signup and view all the answers

What are piston rings, and why are they important?

Piston rings are fitted around the piston to create a gas-tight seal, preventing gas leakage and facilitating efficient combustion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of piston rings within the cylinder?

Piston rings provide a tight seal between the piston and cylinder wall, preventing leakage of combustion gases. Signup and view all the answers

How does the camshaft affect the operation of the engine's valves?

The camshaft controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves at the correct timing. Signup and view all the answers

How does a cylinder head contribute to an engine's operation?

The cylinder head closes the cylinder at the top, houses the combustion chamber, and contains components that manage the flow of air and fuel. Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between the functions of the cylinder block and the cylinder in an internal combustion engine.

The cylinder block supports and houses the engine components, while the cylinder is the space in which the piston moves to facilitate combustion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the gudgeon pin in an engine?

The gudgeon pin links the small end of the connecting rod to the piston. Signup and view all the answers

What purpose do water jackets or cooling fins serve in engine components like the cylinder block?

Water jackets or cooling fins help dissipate heat from the engine components to prevent overheating during operation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a flywheel in an engine?

The flywheel serves to provide a uniform torque to the crankshaft by smoothing out fluctuations in angular velocity during engine operation. Signup and view all the answers

How does a carburetor function in a petrol engine?

A carburetor mixes air and petrol in the proper ratio to ensure efficient combustion in a petrol engine. Signup and view all the answers

What role does a fuel pump play in a diesel engine?

The fuel pump increases pressure and controls the quantity of fuel supplied to the injector in a diesel engine. Signup and view all the answers

Define cylinder bore in the context of an internal combustion engine.

Cylinder bore is the nominal inner diameter of the working cylinder, designated by the letter 'd' and usually expressed in millimeters (mm). Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by stroke in engine terminology?

The stroke is the linear distance the piston travels from one end of the cylinder to the other, usually expressed in millimeters (mm). Signup and view all the answers

Explain the stroke to bore ratio and its significance.

The stroke to bore ratio (L/d) classifies engines as under-square, square, or over-square, influencing engine performance and efficiency. Signup and view all the answers

What is clearance volume (Vc) in an engine?

Clearance volume (Vc) is the volume between the piston top and cylinder head when the piston is at top dead center. Signup and view all the answers

How is the compression ratio (r) defined in an internal combustion engine?

The compression ratio (r) is defined as the ratio of total cylinder volume to clearance volume. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Heat Engines

A heat engine converts chemical energy into thermal energy and uses it to do work.
Thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy.
Heat engines are classified as Internal Combustion Engines (IC Engines) and External Combustion Engines (EC Engines).

IC Engine Components

The cylinder block is the main structure supporting other components.
The cylinder is the space where the piston moves, creating volume changes for the working fluid.
The piston is a cylindrical component moving in the cylinder, providing gas-tight space with piston rings and lubricant.
The combustion chamber is where the fuel burns and thermal energy is released.
The inlet manifold connects the intake system for air or air-fuel mixture.
The exhaust manifold connects the exhaust system for discharging combustion products.
Inlet and exhaust valves regulate the flow of air and exhaust gases.
The spark plug initiates combustion in spark-ignition (SI) engines.
The connecting rod connects the piston and crankshaft, transmitting forces.
The crankshaft converts the piston's reciprocating motion into rotary motion.
Piston rings provide a tight seal between the piston and cylinder wall.
The gudgeon pin links the connecting rod to the piston.
The camshaft controls the opening and closing of valves through push rods, rocker arms, valve springs, and tappets.
The camshaft is driven by the crankshaft using timing gears.
Cams are integral parts of the camshaft, timing valve openings.
The flywheel smooths out fluctuations in torque.
The carburetor mixes air and petrol in petrol engines.
The fuel pump increases pressure and controls fuel supply in diesel engines.
The fuel injector injects diesel fuel in a fine spray during the compression stroke.

IC Engine Terminology

Cylinder Bore (d): The inner diameter of the working cylinder.
Piston Area (A): The cross-sectional area of the piston.
Stroke (L): The linear distance traveled by the piston from one end of the cylinder to the other.
Stroke to Bore Ratio (L/d): This ratio classifies engine size.
- Under-square engine: d < L
- Square engine: d = L
- Over-square engine: d > L
Displacement or Swept Volume (Vs): The volume displaced by the piston during one stroke.
Cubic Capacity or Engine Capacity: The total displacement volume of all cylinders in an engine.
Clearance Volume (Vc): The volume between the piston top and cylinder head at top dead center.
Compression Ratio (r): The ratio of total cylinder volume to clearance volume.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of heat engines and their components in this quiz. Learn about the conversion of energy and the specific parts of internal combustion engines that play vital roles in their operation. Test your knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of these essential engineering concepts.